This analytical article aims to describe, and analyze the relationships between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Russian Federation from 2016 to 2023, during the post-Karimov era. In this paper, Postcolonialism is used as the primary theory of International Relations (IR) to explain political, economic, and cultural processes between Uzbekistan and Russia, underlying key elements, and saturating historical explanation. Furthermore, the author compares Postcolonial theory with other theories of IR, providing with strong and concrete arguments, and proves that Postcolonial theory best describes the relations between Uzbekistan and Russia in the current world. The main research area of the article is the understanding and explanation of the political, economic and cultural behavior of Uzbekistan in relations with Russia. This is achieved by the process of analysis and description of the valid sources, with an attention to postcolonial features to be interpreted. Postcolonial theory is used to shape, and analyze four aspects: economic dependency, migration, political relations, and cultural hegemony. Moreover, going through all these aspects, the author provides with valid data and statistics to support his statements and arguments. The author gives his opinion on each research aspect mentioned above. In conclusion, the author gives recommendations in further foreign policy of Uzbekistan, referring to the Postcolonial theory.

The Republic of Uzbekistan, Russian Federation, theories of IR, Postcolonialism, Liberalism, Realism, Constructivism, cultural hegemony, economic dependency, migration, political relations.

Adilkhojaeva, S.M. (2022) ‘Evolution development of Japan-Uzbekistan relations: From traditional cooperation to strengthening strategic partnership’, Oriental Journal of History, Politics and Law, pp. 146-154. doi: https://doi.org/10.37547/supsci-ojhpl-02-02-19.

Abrorkulov, A.B. (2023) ‘Rol Respubliki Uzbekistan v obespechenii finansovoi stabilnosti i protsessov integratsii v Тsentralnoi Azii’ [The role of the Republic of Uzbekistan in ensuring financial stability and integration processes in Central Asia], Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal, 1(33), pp. 84-89.

Burchill, S., Linklater, A., Devetak, R., Donnelly J., Paterson, M., Reus-Smit, C., and True, J. (2005) Theories of International Relations, Third Edition. New York: Palgrave Macmillian.

Crawley, R. (2013) The Peloponnesian War. Roman Roads Media.

Dunne, T., Kurki, M., and Smith, S. (2013) International Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity. 3rd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Duguri, U.S., Hassan, I., and Ibrahim, Y.K. (2021) ‘International relations, realism, and liberalism: A theoretical review’, International Journal of Social and Humanities Extension, 2(1), pp. 1–6.

Dadabaev, T. (2018) ‘Uzbekistan as Central Asian game changer? Uzbekistan’s foreign policy construction in the post-Karimov era’, Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, pp. 1-14. doi: 10.1177/2057891118775289.

Daryo.uz (2024). Uzbekistan’s top 10 trading partners, China retains top spot in January of 2024. [online] Daryo.uz. Available at: https://daryo.uz/en/2024/02/21/uzbekistans-top-10-trading-partners-china-retains-top-spot-in-january-of-2024. (Accessed: 15 December 2024).

Dadabaev, T. (2019) Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Inroads into Central Asia: Comparative Analysis of the Economic Cooperation Roadmaps for Uzbekistan, Policy Studies Issue 78. East-West Center.

Dilliyev, K. (2024) ‘The role of political and cultural cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey in the improvement of the Organization of Turkic States’, Western European Journal of Historical Events and Social Science, 2(5), pp. 14-20.

Fazendeiro, B.T. (2017) ‘Uzbekistan’s defensive self-reliance: Karimov’s foreign policy legacy’. International Affairs, 93(2), pp. 409–427. doi: 10.1093/ia/iiw062.

Guzzini, S. (2000) ‘A reconstruction of constructivism in international relations’, European Journal of International Relations, 6(2), pp. 147-182.

Göksel, O., and Hüseynova N. (2024) ‘The other colonial empire: Reconsidering Soviet rule in the Caucasus and Central Asia through a post-colonial lens’, Florya Chronicles of Political Economy, 10(2), pp. 211-247.

Gorshenina, S. (2021) ‘Orientalism, postcolonialism and decolonial frames on Central Asia: Theoretical relevance and applicability’. Handbook of Central Asian Studies: History, Politics & Societies, Stuttgart: Ibidem-Verlag, pp. 177-243.

Hobbes, T. (1651/2012) Leviathan. Edited. New York: Dover Publications.

Jahn, B. (2006) Classical Theory in International Relations. Cambridge University Press.

Jurayev, N., and Zamonov, A. (2018) Istoriia Uzbekistana (Period Nezavisimosti) [History of Uzbekistan (Independence Period)]. Tashkent: Izdatelsko-poligraficheskii tvorcheskii dom imeni Gafura Guliama.

Junling, Sh. (2023) ‘Research on the construction of regional economic cooperation mechanism between China and Uzbekistan under the Belt and Road Initiative’, Ijtimoiy-Iqtisodiy Rivojlanish, pp. 427-433. doi: https://doi.org/10.55439/ECED/vol24_iss2/a68.

Korab-Karpowicz, W.J. (2010) Political Realism in International Relations. plato.stanford.edu. [online] Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2017/entries/realism-intl-relations. (Accessed: 9 December 2024).

Khitakhunov, A. (2023) ‘New phase of the European Union – Central Asia cooperation: Temporary or strategic rapprochement?’, Eurasian Research Journal, 5(1), pp. 26-42.

Meiser, J.W. (2018) ‘Introducing liberalism in international relations theory’, E-International Relations Publishing, P. 1, pp. 22-27.

Norbaev, T., and Jumaniyazova, O. (2024) Geopolitics of the New Uzbekistan: Past and Future. Zenodo. [online] Available at: https://zenodo.org/records/11642732. (Accessed: 28 November 2024).

Oldemeinen, M. (2010) The Political Realism of Thucydides and Thomas Hobbes. [online] Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2010/02/15/the-political-realism-of. (Accessed: 26 November 2024).

Rakhmanova, N.U., and Azamov S.M. (2023) ‘Torgovo-ekonomicheskoe sotrudnichestvo Rossii i Uzbekistana na sovremennom etape’ [Trade and economic cooperation of Russia and Uzbekistan at the current stage], E-Conference Series, pp. 74-80.

Searle, J.R. (1995) The Construction of Social Reality. New York: The Free Press.

Sebba, M. (2006) ‘Ideology and alphabets in the former USSR’. Language Problems & Language Planning, 30(2), pp. 99-125(27).

Shayusupova, L.R., and Khasanov, A.A. (2024) ‘Exploring labor migration patterns: A study on Uzbek migrant workers abroad’, International Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Education, 2(5), pp. 786-790. Available at: https://multijournals.org/index.php/excellencia-imje. (Accessed: 23 December 2024).

Tarakanova, T.S. and Pogodin S.N. (2018) ‘Razvitie partnerskikh otnoshenii Rossii so stranami Тsentralnoi Azii’ [The development of the partnership relations between Russia and the countries of Central Asia], International Relations and Dialogue of Cultures № 6, pp. 92-106. doi: 10.1870/HUM/2304-9480.6.08.

Toktogulov, B. (2022) ‘Uzbekistan’s foreign policy under Mirziyoyev: Change or continuity?’, Eurasian Research Journal, 4(1), pp. 49-67. doi: https://doi.org/10.53277/2519-2442-2022.1-03.

Toshbekov, B.B. (2022) ‘Strong relations Uzbekistan plays an important role in Central Asia (US perspective)’, International Journal of Law and Society, 1(2), pp. 144-152. doi: 10.59683/ijls.v1i2.22.

Waltz, K.N. (1979) Theory of International Politics. McGraw-Hill Humanities, Social Sciences & World Languages.